Amanda Nunes appears poised for a comeback in the UFC following her encounter with the newly-crowned women’s bantamweight champion, Kayla Harrison, after UFC 316 on Sunday afternoon (AEST).
Harrison, an Olympic gold medallist, secured her victory over Julianna Pena, winning by submission in the second round of the co-main event. Following this, Nunes entered the cage to announce her intention to challenge Harrison. The former two-division champion, who retired last year with a strong claim to being the greatest female fighter in history, expressed her eagerness to return to the octagon to face Harrison.
In a candid statement, Nunes confirmed, “Yes, definitely. We knew this was gonna happen. Now, we’re gonna do it. I’m happy to come back and fight you, Kayla. We are definitely gonna see each other in the future.”
Harrison welcomed the challenge with open arms, lauding Nunes as “the greatest fighter of all time.” She remarked, “For a long time, I’ve said that I want what she has. I have a belt, she has a legacy – let’s put it on the table.”
In the main event of the night, Merab Dvalishvili defended his bantamweight title against former champion Sean O’Malley, successfully submitting him in the third round with a choke.
As the landscape of women’s MMA continues to evolve, the impending showdown between Nunes and Harrison promises to be a pivotal moment, with both fighters representing the pinnacle of the sport.